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Electronic Health Records*

The relationship between copper content in scalp hair and mental retardation was investigated. Samples of scalp hair were collected from 297 mentally retarded children who were students in one of two schools providing special educational services, one, consisted of children living in an orphan home, the other, children living with parents. For comparison, 117 scalp hair samples were collected from the children who had got average or above average academic achievement in a regular elementary school. Hair samples were taken from the nape of the neck and the copper content was determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (IL 551). There was no statistically significant difference in scalp copper levels across different age groups except female orphan group, but no trend or correlation between copper contents and age was found. The hair copper contents of the group accompanied by Down's syndrome and unknown group were significantly lower than that of control group in both sex, and in the case of accompanied by epilepsy or autism, lower than control group in male. Although the results of this study show no evidence that mental retardation has owed to copper deficiency, the possibility of copper deficiency in their fetal or infant age could not be ruled out. Thus further study is needed to determine whether mental retardation could be attributed to copper deficiency. through the examinations about their living environments, dietary pattern, eating habit and the impact of copper deficiency on brain development.
Absorption ; Autistic Disorder ; Brain ; Child* ; Child, Orphaned ; Copper* ; Down Syndrome ; Eating ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hair* ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Mentally Disabled Persons* ; Neck ; Parents ; Scalp

We tried to develop Korean computerized neurobehavioral tests to promote neurobehavioral research and screening in occupational setting in Korea. This program was designated Neurobehavioral Tests for Occupational Screening (NTOS). NTOS consisted of 3 test items, choice reaction time (2 choice and 4 choice), simple reaction time (visual and auditory stimulus), finger tapping test (both hands). NTOS was administered to 120 students of medical school and to evaluate applicability. The results of reaction time tests was positively skewed but finger tapping test was negatively skewed. The only data that was not skewed was the mean frequency of finger tapping of dominant hand. The means and standard deviations of choice reaction time were 429.7 msec and 109.8 msec (2 choice), 493. 6 msec and 92.0 msec (4 choice). The results of simple reaction time were 254 msec (mean) and 55 msec (standard deviation). The mean frequency of finger tapping of dominant hand was 77.2 and that of nondominant hand was 64.9. The results of 2 choice reaction time test and finger tapping of dominant hand showed statistically significant sex difference. Factor analysis showed 2 factors, 1st reaction tests and 2nd tapping. The mean frequency of finger tapping had negative weak correlation with other reaction time test results. This computerized neurobehavioral tests may be widely applied in the other future studies, and is to be improved for the practical purpose of the occupational neurotoxico-logical area.
Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Reaction Time ; Schools, Medical ; Sex Characteristics

BACKGROUND: Significant ethnic and geographic differences exist in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, which has increased dramatically in South Korea. But a few population-based studies were performed in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Diabetic Association (ADA) diagnostic categories, and to investigate their associated risk factors. METHODS: Between march 22, 1999 and July 14, 1999, a random sampling of 1445 residents over 40 year of age in five villages in the Namwon county of South Korea was carried out. Among these subjects, 665 (46.0%) participants completed 75 g OGTT. WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria were used for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, IGT and IFG. Detailed questionnaire were performed and anthropometric data were collected. RESULTS: After age-adjustment for population projection for Korea (1999), the prevalence of diabetes and IGT were 13.7% and 13.8% with WHO criteria, while the prevalence of diabetes, IGT and IFG were 15.8%, 12.8% and 5.7% with ADA criteria. The age-adjusted prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes was 5.8%. The level of agreement between WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria except IFG was high (K=0.94; p<0.001). The ROC curve analysis determined FSG of 114.5 mg/dL (6.4 mmol/L) to yield optimal sensitivity and specificity corresponding to a PP2SG 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L). The prevalence of diabetes and IGT with ADA diagnostic criteria rose with increasing age (p<0.05). The difference in the prevalence of diabetes, IGT and IFG by BMI was not significant. The prevalence of diabetes rose with increase in the waist-hip ratio. The prevalence of diabetes was increased in subjects with dyslipidemia (Odds ratio 2.29, 95% CI: 1.16-3.49). CONCLUSION: The age-adjusted prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in populations over 40 year of age in the Namwon county was substantially higher than previously observed. Ethnic differences in obesity with BMI and in the effect on diabetes risk of obesity may exist in the Korean population. The adequate cut-off point for fasting serum glucose was lower than that by the ADA diagnostic category. These results may show that not only fasting serum glucose but also postprandial 2-h serum glucose are important for diagnosing diabetes in Korean.
Aged* ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; Population Forecast ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Korea* ; Obesity ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; World Health Organization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Obstructive jaundice primarily results from choledocholithiasis, neoplasm, inflammation and infection such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, postsurgical stricture, AIDS cholangiopathy, extrinsic compression of the biliary trees. However, obstructive jaundice secondary to foreign bodies is rare. Especially, shrapnel induced biliary obstruction is very rare and has never been reported in Korea. We report a patient who had biliary obstruction due to metal shrapnel. He had shrapnel injury 52 year ago during the Korean War. For a long time, he had had no symptoms. He was admitted to our hospital for epigastric pain and jaundice. Abdominal CT scan showed a metallic foreign body in the common bile duct. The patient underwent ERCP, and the shrapnel and several stones were successfully extracted with a basket.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Korea ; Korean War ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed